In what would be a surprise move, Warner Bros. has allegedly offered the job of director on Xerxes to Guy Ritchie (crumpledung, Sherlock Holmes). Vulture makes the claim, saying that Ritchie has been asked to helm the 300 follow-up.

Based on an upcoming comic book from 300 creator Frank Miller, Xerxes is said to tell of the history of the "King of Kings" and his rise to power in fifth-century-BC Persia. Supposedly beginning about ten years before 300, the prequel would also offer an opportunity for Gerard Butler to reprise his role as Leonidas.

The reasoning behind not having Snyder return to the director's chair is currently open to debate, though Vulture posits some suspicions. What is known is that the Watchmen and Sucker Punch director is currently prepping for another major Warner Bros. comic book property, Superman, set for release in December of 2012.

As reported earlier this year, Zack Snyder's involvement with Man of Steel is going to prevent him from returning for the 300 sequel, formerly titled Xerxes. Now, Deadline reports that the list of potential replacement directors is down to two: Noam Murro and Jaume Collet-Serra and that the film has officially been retitled 300: Battle of Artemisia.

Based on an upcoming comic book from 300 creator Frank Miller, the project is said to tell of the history of the "King of Kings" and his rise to power in fifth-century-BC Persia. Supposedly beginning about ten years before 300, the prequel would also offer an opportunity for Gerard Butler to reprise his role as Leonidas.

Murro's sole feature directing credit is the 2008 indie comedy/drama Smart People, though he's also responsible for the live-action marketing campaign for the video game franchise Halo and is attached to direct Die Hard 5. Jaume Collet-Serra, meanwhile, directed Orphan and, mostly recently, Unknown. He's also said to be helming the upcoming "Dracula" tale, Harker.

It might seem a little late to the party to begin tackling a 300 spin-off, but Warner Bros. is banking on the timing being just right for a follow-up to the 2006 blockbuster.

The Hollywood Reporter reports that Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures have chosen a director for the upcoming project, previously known as Xerses but now titled 300: Battle of Artemisia. The man they have tapped is Israeli-born director Noam Murro, who directed 2008's Short People and is linked to the fifth installment of the Die Hard series.

His main competition in the race was Jaume Collet-Serra, the man at the helm of the Liam Neeson thriller Unknown. Collet-Serra was just picked to direct the big screen adaptation of the hit anime Akira, while Murro looks to receive an official offer this week for the 300 spin-off.

Sullivan Stapleton (Animal Kingdom) could be headed to the fifth century, B.C. as Variety has word that he's being eyed to play a leading role in Noam Murro's 300: Battle of Artemisia.

The film, a sequel to Zack Snyder's 300 (in turn based on Frank Miller's 1998 comic book miniseries), will tell, in part, the story of Greek General Themistocles, who lead Athens against Persian invaders in a battle that played out simultaneously with the Battle of Thermopylae (depicted in the first film).

Superhero Hype spoke with the film's producers last fall and got an update on the status of the quasi-sequel.

"We have to say that Zack Snyder and Kurt Johnstad, his writing partner, have killed it," said Mark Canton of the screenplay. "They've done a tremendous job making a highly intelligent, epic story that will stand on its own. But it's not a conventional sequel and, for what we do, that's what you hope and pray for. That you can be original and authentic at the same time."

No other actors are officially attached, but Eva Green was recently said to be up for the role of Artemisia.

The cast for Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures' 300: Battle of Artemisia, the prequel to Zack Snyder's 2006 blockbuster directed by Noam Murro, is starting to come together, with Deadline reporting that Jamie Blackley from London Boulevard will be joining Sullivan Stapleton as the co-lead.

Having just wrapped a supporting role in Snow White and the Huntsman and the lead in Andrew Douglas' internet thriller uwantme2killhim? (produced by Bryan Singer), Blackley will play 16-year-old Calisto inspired by his soldier father to lead a band of soldiers to war.

ComingSoon.net/SuperHeroHype has confirmed that Rodrigo Santoro will return in the role of Xerxes in Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures' 300: Battle of Artemisia. The actor will be joining Eva Green, Sullivan Stapleton and Jamie Blackley in the film, to be directed by Noam Murro from a script by Kurt Johnstad.

The movie, a follow-up to Zack Snyder's 300 (in turn based on Frank Miller's 1998 comic book miniseries), is expected to tell, in part, the story of Greek General Themistocles, who lead Athens against Persian invaders in a battle that played out simultaneously with the Battle of Thermopylae (depicted in the first film).

Green plays the title role of Artemisia while Stapleton has been cast in the lead role. Blackley plays Calisto, who is inspired by his father to lead a band of soldiers to war.

Warner Bros. has updated their release calendar, announcing 300: Battle of Artemisia (which is rumored to soon receive a new title) for August 2, 2013.

A sequel to Zack Snyder's 300, in turn based on the graphic work by Frank Miller, will be directed by Noam Murro and is slated to star Rodrigo Santoro, Eva Green, Sullivan Stapleton and Jamie Blackley. The film is expected to tell, in part, the story of Greek General Themistocles, who lead Athens against Persian invaders in a battle that played out simultaneously with the Battle of Thermopylae (depicted in the first film).

Green plays the title role of Artemisia while Stapleton has been cast in the lead role. Blackley plays Calisto, who is inspired by his father to lead a band of soldiers to war.

The release date puts the film up against Columbia Pictures' Smurfs 2 and Dean Parisot's comic book sequel, RED 2.

Eva Green chatted with MTV about her character Artemisia in the upcoming untitled 300 Spinoff.

"Oh yeah, I’m playing Artemisia. She really existed actually," the actress said. "She was commander on a boat, of a whole Armada. She’s a very ballsy character, she’s almost like a man, so that’s fun. It’s my first action film, it’s going to be a challenge, [there will be] lots of training."

Daily Mail confirms that Jack O'Connell will be replacing Jamie Blackley as Calisto in 300: Battle for Artemisia, who is inspired by his father to lead a band of soldiers to war.

The actor will be joining Eva Green, Sullivan Stapleton, and Rodrigo Santoro in the film, to be directed by Noam Murro from a script by Kurt Johnstad. Green plays the title role of Artemisia while Stapleton has been cast in the lead role. Santoro will be reprising his role as Xerxes.

The movie, a follow-up to Zack Snyder's 300 (in turn based on Frank Miller's 1998 comic book miniseries), is expected to tell, in part, the story of Greek General Themistocles, who lead Athens against Persian invaders in a battle that played out simultaneously with the Battle of Thermopylae (depicted in the first film).

The movie, a follow-up to Zack Snyder's 2006 original (in turn based on Frank Miller's 1998 comic book miniseries), is expected to tell, in part, the story of Greek General Themistocles, who lead Athens against Persian invaders in a battle that played out simultaneously with the Battle of Thermopylae (depicted in the first film).

The prequel/sequel 300: Rise of an Empire won't hit theaters until next August and there hasn't been much news about the film. Our parent site ComingSoon.net spoke with actor Rodrigo Santoro, however, about the upcoming film, specifically what he had to do to get ready.

"I had to shave, I had to work out again, I had to go back to Xerxes. It's the same character," he said. "There's little new things—a little before, a little after—but most of the movie, it's during… kind of the same time where the first movie takes place. There's a lot going on. It's hard, the green screen, it's a different way of working. It's really challenging to work that way and the character wears a lot and Xerxes is a giant. He's almost not human, which is a poetic license. It comes from a graphic novel so it's not based in real history, so that character is very very tall and his voice is like thunder and that's the description of this character. So there's a couple special FX and tricks that have to be done to accomplish that figure so I do scenes by myself. It's interesting, it's a lot of work."

Little is known about the plot for the 300 follow-up 300: Rise of an Empire, but star Rodrigo Santoro gave a few hints about it in an interview with CBR.

"I would say that you get to know a little bit about [Xerxes'] backstory, which I thought is pretty cool. It's more like you have the new Athenian, Sullivan. You have Eva Green's character, which is a commander, a naval commander, my naval commander, and you have Xerxes. It gravitates between all three, what's going on."

Sullivan Stapleton plays General Themistocles in the film and Eva Green will play Artemisia (which the film was originally named after).

So how does the film compare to Zack Snyder's original 300?

"I didn't see the movie yet, the final result, but the experience -- I mean, Zack was pretty much involved because he wrote it and he's producing it. His hands are there, but Noam will have his own take on directing it. I think it's going to be pretty awesome, and the fans are going to be pleased."

The Noam Murro films also stars Lena Headey, Hans Matheson, Igal Naor, Callan Mulvey, Jack O'Connell and Andrew Tiernan and is set to be released in 2D and 3D on August 2, 2013.

Based on Frank Miller's latest graphic novel "Xerxes" and told in the breathtaking visual style of the blockbuster 300, this new chapter of the epic saga takes the action to a fresh battlefield—on the sea—as Greek general Themistokles (Sullivan Stapleton) attempts to unite all of Greece by leading the charge that will change the course of the war. 300: Rise of an Empire pits Themistokles against the massive invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro), and Artemesia (Eva Green), vengeful commander of the Persian navy.

A new image connected to Noam Murro's upcoming 300: Rise of an Empire has debuted at Amazon as the cover to the tie-in publication "300: Rise of an Empire: The Art of the Film." Check it out below!

The movie, a follow-up to Zack Snyder's 300 (in turn based on Frank Miller's 1998 comic book miniseries), is expected to tell, in part, the story of Greek General Themistocles, who lead Athens against Persian invaders in a battle that played out simultaneously with the Battle of Thermopylae (depicted in the first film).

Rodrigo Santoro returns as Xerxes in the film with Sullivan Stapleton as General Themistocles and Eva Green as Artemisia. The film also stars Lena Headey, Hans Matheson, Igal Naor, Callan Mulvey, Jack O'Connell and Andrew Tiernan and is set to be released in 2D, 3D, and IMAX.

300: Rise of an Empire hits theaters August 2. The book itself will land on store shelves July 2.